6 October 2008

Statement by
H.E Mr. Eshagh Al Habib
Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
On Agenda item 55: Social Development
Third Committee of the 63rd Session of the UNGA
New York, 6 October 2008
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In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. Chairman,
Allow me at the outset, to congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your
election to the 63rd session of the Third Committee. I would also like to thank the
Secretary General for his useful and informative reports on this agenda item which
helps us to enrich our deliberations and discussions. Moreover, my delegation aligns
itself with the statement delivered by Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the G77 and
China.
Mr. Chairman,
More than a decade after World Summit for social Development, the overall assessment
of the implementation of the outcome of the WSSD and the twenty–fourth special
session of the General Assembly indicates that despite the efforts made and the progress
achieved in some areas, the world social development progress is minimum and the
principal commitments made by the governments are not materialized as expected.
Inequalities have increased in many parts of the world and the gap between rich and
poor is widening and deepening at an alarming pace. The figures on youth situations in
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the world reveal that the young people are facing a tremendous pressure of
unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, addiction and disappointment.
This year marks the last year of implementation cycle on the social development
priority theme, “Promoting full employment and decent work for all”. Employment has
a central role in poverty eradication, social inclusion and integration as well as
promoting peace and stability in societies. The World Summit for Social Development
has also recognized employment and productive work as central to the development
process and “an effective way to combat poverty and promote social integration”. Yet,
given the existing levels and trends of unemployment, the commitments to generate full
and productive employment and decent work are facing considerable challenges. Recent
researches indicate that 1.5 billion people are either unemployed or underemployed, and
about one third of the world’s working –age population is not participating at all in the
labor markets. The current situation of the world is characterized by high and increasing
unemployment and underemployment, unproductive jobs, unsafe work and insecure
income. Still today young people without privilege and wealth struggle to find a way to
the labor market and older persons enjoy less and less security for a lifetime of work.
We believe that the efforts to generate full employment transcend national policies. The
achievement of full employment rests upon the promotion of a conducive
macroeconomic environment based on the implementation of an integrated and coherent
policies, programs and activities at the national and international levels. As indicated in
the report of Secretary General contained in document A/63/133, enhanced international
cooperation, including through fulfilling commitments for official development
assistance and debt relief, is important to fully implement the decent work agenda.
Furthermore, greater policy coherence among trade, aid, economic policies and social
policies is essential. The international community must address the employment
implication of global macroeconomic conditions and of the international trading system
to that effect.
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Mr. Chairman,
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to accomplish the
goals set by the World Summit for Social Development and its subsequent review
sessions as well as relevant UN plans and programs of action pertaining to social
development at the national level. The progress in the implementation by Iran of the
Copenhagen commitments indicates the significant efforts made in order to promote
policies and develop institutions and programs that directly or indirectly relate to social
development. Iran attaches great importance to the human development in its all
aspects. Among the programs adopted and actions taken at the national level to realize
the goals of human development, especial emphasis has been placed on improving
health, fighting poverty and providing job opportunities.
The Government has also developed a comprehensive social security system based on a
national commitment to advance social cohesion and integration. In this context,
attention has been focused mainly on fair income distribution, removing disparities and
assisting and protecting the limited income families as well as improving quality of life
for vulnerable segment of the population. In resent years, Iran has achieved notable
successes in the field of education, and is undertaking efforts to decentralize decisionmaking
especially on literacy programs while ensuring that the most disadvantaged
regions are able to improve their literacy rates. We hope that such initiatives and
policies will lead to positive and tangible results by providing and promoting a secure
and decent life for the present and next generation.
Thank you